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Slain sisters were pregnant, dad says

THOMSON --- Two sisters who were fatally shot Wednesday at an apartment complex in Thomson were both pregnant, family members said.

"My wife told me (Wednesday) that Linda was pregnant," said the sisters' father, Fred Mathis, referring to his daughter Linda Mathis, 21. Family members said they had known that Linda's sister, Marlo Mathis, 20, was six months' pregnant.

Marlo and Linda died Wednesday of gunshot wounds, according to the preliminary results of a Thursday autopsy, said McDuffie County Deputy Coroner Sammy Purvis.

The man charged with their deaths, Bryant Williams, appeared in court Thursday, facing two counts of murder. He expressed remorse, indicating that he wanted to be punished for what had happened.

"I want y'all to know, do whatever y'all want to do," Mr. Williams told McDuffie County Chief Magistrate Judge Bryant Swan while holding his head down and sobbing. "I want the death penalty."

Authorities would not confirm the pregnancies or whether Mr. Williams would face more charges.

Mr. Mathis said neither of his daughters deserved what happened to them.

"I don't have the slightest idea why they were shot to death," Mr. Mathis said.

At Thursday's hearing, Judge Swan told the defendant that if convicted, he could get life in prison, life without parole or the death penalty.